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1 N‑VAR [oft N n] Clay is a kind of earth that is soft when it is wet and hard when it is dry. Clay is shaped and baked to make things such as pots and bricks. □  …the heavy clay soils of Cambridgeshire. □  As the wheel turned, the potter shaped and squeezed the lump of clay into a graceful shape. □  …a little clay pot.

2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft on N , N n] In tennis, matches played on clay are played on courts whose surface is covered with finely crushed stones or brick. □  He was a clay-court specialist who won Wimbledon five times.

cla y pi |geon (clay pigeons ) N‑COUNT [usu N n] Clay pigeons are discs of baked clay which are thrown into the air by a machine as targets for gun shooting practice. □  …hunting and clay-pigeon shooting.

clean ◆◆◇ /kliː n/ (cleaner , cleanest , cleans , cleaning , cleaned )

1 ADJ Something that is clean is free from dirt or unwanted marks. □  He wore his cleanest slacks, a clean shirt and a navy blazer. □  Disease has not been a problem because clean water is available. □  The metro is efficient and spotlessly clean.

2 ADJ You say that people or animals are clean when they keep themselves or their surroundings clean.

3 ADJ A clean fuel or chemical process does not create many harmful or polluting substances. □  Fans of electric cars say they are clean, quiet and economical. ●  clean|ly ADV [ADV after v] □  Manufacturers are working with new fuels to find one that burns more cleanly than petrol.

4 VERB If you clean something or clean dirt off it, you make it free from dirt and unwanted marks, for example by washing or wiping it. If something cleans easily, it is easy to clean. □ [V n] Her father cleaned his glasses with a paper napkin. □ [V n prep/adv] It took half an hour to clean the orange powder off the bath. □ [V adv] Wood flooring not only cleans easily, but it's environmentally friendly into the bargain. ● N‑SING Clean is also a noun. □  Give the cooker a good clean.

5 VERB If you clean a room or house, you make the inside of it and the furniture in it free from dirt and dust. □ [V ] My parents cooked and cleaned. □ [V n] She got up early and cleaned the flat. ●  clean|ing N‑UNCOUNT □  I do the cleaning myself.

6 ADJ If you describe something such as a book, joke, or lifestyle as clean , you think that they are not sexually immoral or offensive. [APPROVAL ] □  They're trying to show clean, wholesome, decent movies. □  Flirting is good clean fun.

7 ADJ If someone has a clean reputation or record, they have never done anything illegal or wrong. □  Accusations of tax evasion have tarnished his clean image. □  You can hire these from most car hire firms, provided you have a clean driving licence.

8 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A clean game or fight is carried out fairly, according to the rules. □  He called for a clean fight in the election and an end to 'negative campaigning'. ●  clean|ly ADV [ADV after v, ADV -ed] □  The game had been cleanly fought.

9 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A clean sheet of paper has no writing or drawing on it. □  Take a clean sheet of paper and down the left-hand side make a list.

10 ADJ [ADJ n] If you make a clean break or start, you end a situation completely and start again in a different way. □  She wanted to make a clean break from her mother and father.

11 ADV [oft ADV before v] Clean is used to emphasize that something was done completely. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □  It burned clean through the seat of my overalls. □  I clean forgot everything I had prepared.